US and Israel quit UNESCO, says bias is the reason

The government of US and Israel have finally decided to quit the UNESCO organisation. The countries gave up the Educational, Scientific and cultural organization of UN at midnight claiming the agency to be biased. The process for quitting had began a year ago stating that the organization encourages the feeling of anti-Israel bias.

Although it was a structural process, the
withdrawal of US from the agency came as a big hit to the agency. This is
because the US was one of the major members for co-founding the organization
after the World War II. UN was set up as a mutual decision among the countries
to give way to peace.

US and Israel quit UNESCO: The Withdrawal

The notice to withdraw from the organization
was given in October 2017 by the American president Trump. However, following
the decision of America, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also called
for quit.

Many critics have often taken a stand against
the Paris-based UNESCO. This is because the people believe organization fosters
anti-Israel bias. It had criticized Israel occupying East Jerusalem and
renaming all the ancient Jewish heritage as the Palestinian heritage sites. It
further offered complete membership to Palestine back in 2011.

Talking of the quit, UN Israeli envoy Danny
Danon on Tuesday added that his country, “will not be a member of an
organization whose goal is to deliberately act against us, and that has become
a tool manipulated by Israel’s enemies.”

UNESCO is popular among everyone as the
efficient organization for protecting the world Heritage sites. The World
Heritage Program by UNESCO preserves all the major sites of the world. Apart
from that it also works towards promoting the rights of girls and understanding
the horrors of Holocaust. US had asked to bring in some fundamental changes in
the organization.

US and Israel quit UNESCO: Unpaid dues

As far as impact on UNESCO is concerned, the
withdrawal may not have much of negative impact. Back in 2011 when Palestine
was adopted as a member state, US and Israel had stopped paying. Thus the
unpaid dues from US side is about $600 million while that of Israel stands at
$10 million.

The Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay
also took up the post after the withdrawal announcement of trump. Azoulay had
launched an educational website (the first for UN) directing to fighting against
anti-Semitism.

Officials state that the reasons given by US
for withdrawal aren’t applicable anymore because since then the 12 texts of the
Middle East passed by UNESCO has been regarded to be consensual among the Arab
member states and Israel.

US and Israel quit UNESCO: Dissatisfaction of Israel

The current resolutions passed by UNESCO
aren’t satisfactory for Israel. This is because it brings down the connection
of the country to that of the Holy land and it has renamed all the ancient
Jewish sites to be the Heritage Site of Palestine.

US and Israel quit UNESCO: Not the first for US

Although US has withdrawn it may continue to
be the non-member observer state. It is not the first time that US withdrew
from the agency. Back in 1984 too the government had withdrawn claiming the
agency to be corrupt and promote the Soviet interests. However, it did join the
agency back in 2003.